Gebouw met torens bij een bosrand 1882

This drawing of a building with towers near a forest edge was made by Alexander Ver Huell using pen in brown ink. The artist seems to have approached the picture with an almost scientific interest in precise detail. Notice how the artist uses fine hatching to create a sense of depth and volume in the foliage and architecture. It is this attention to detail that gives the image its compelling sense of realism. In the 19th century, there was growing professionalization of art. Specialized training was required for artists to master techniques like perspective and shading. The artist uses the pen in brown ink in a very skillful way, mastering the use of hatching and stippling to create a wide range of tonal values, from the darkest shadows to the highlights on the towers. Paying attention to materials and processes reveals the skills involved in image-making. The artist's hand, eye, and mind worked together to create this small but stunning work of art.